what happened in the battle of fort wagner

Full Answer

What was the result of the Battle of Fort Wagner?

Aftermath of Fort Wagner. The fighting ended around 10:30 PM as the last Union troops either retreated or surrendered. In the fighting, Gillmore sustained 246 killed, 880 wounded, and 389 captured. Among the dead were Strong, Shaw, and Putnam. Confederate losses numbered only 36 killed, 133 wounded, and 5 captured.

Who was involved in the Battle of Fort Wagner?

He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. The Battles of Fort Wagner were fought on July 11 and 18, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). In the summer of 1863, Union Brigadier General Quincy Gillmore sought to advance towards Charleston, SC.

What is the exact location of the Battle of Fort Wagner?

/  32.73000°N 79.87111°W  / 32.73000; -79.87111 /  32.73000°N 79.87111°W  / 32.73000; -79.87111 The Second Battle of Fort Wagner, also known as the Second Assault on Morris Island or the Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was fought on July 18, 1863, during the American Civil War.

What was the armament of Fort Wagner on July 18?

The armament of Fort Wagner on the night of July 18 consisted of one 10-inch seacoast mortar, two 32 lb. carronades, two 8-inch shell guns, two 32 lb. howitzers, a 42 lb. carronade, and an 8-inch seacoast mortar on the land face.

What was the significance of the Battle of Fort Wagner?

The 54th Massachusetts' valor at the Battle of Fort Wagner paved the way for more African Americans to enlist. By the end of the war more than 180,000 African Americans enlisted in the U.S. Army, making up 10% of all U.S. forces for the duration of the war.

What happened during Fort Wagner?

It was the Union attack on July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw led the 54th Massachusetts on foot while they charged, and was killed in the assault.

Who won the battle at Fort Wagner?

Confederate victoryGen. Quincy Gillmore launched an unsuccessful assault on the Confederate fortress of Fort Wagner, which protected Morris Island, south of Charleston Harbor. The battle came one week after the First Battle of Fort Wagner....Second Battle of Fort Wagner.DateJuly 18, 1863ResultConfederate victory1 more row

What happened when the 54th attacked Fort Wagner?

Union Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and 272 of his troops are killed in an assault on Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina. Shaw was commander of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, perhaps the most famous regiment of African American troops during the war.

What was the result of the assault on Fort Wagner by the African American soldiers of the unions 54th Massachusetts regiment?

Union troops were able to briefly penetrate into Wagner itself but not could exploit their breakthrough due to determined Confederate counterattacks and sweeping artillery fire. Finally in the early hours of July 19, Union troops withdrew, and the fierce battle came to an end.

How did the first battle of Fort Wagner start?

On July 10, Union shot artillery on Folly Island (which had been occupied in April 1863) and naval gunfire from Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren's four ironclad warships bombarded the Confederate defenses protecting the southern end of Morris Island. This provided cover for the landing of Brig.

Did the union win Fort Wagner?

While the Battle of Fort Wagner was a Confederate victory, this battle showed the fierce determinations of African Americans in the Union army with the brave assault led by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. For their valor, numerous soldiers, such as Seg.

When did the battle of Fort Wagner end?

July 18, 1863Second Battle of Fort Wagner / End date

Did anyone from the 54th Massachusetts survive?

The 54th Massachusetts numbered 600 men at the time of the assault. Of these, 270 were killed, wounded, or captured during the engagement. Col. Shaw was killed, along with 29 of his men; 24 more later died of wounds, 15 were captured, 52 were missing in action and never accounted for, and 149 were wounded.

Did the 54th Massachusetts win?

The 54th lost the battle at Fort Wagner, but they did a great deal of damage there. Confederate troops abandoned the fort soon afterward. For the next two years, the regiment participated in a series of successful siege operations in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

What did the 54th Massachusetts accomplish?

The Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was the first Northern black volunteer regiment enlisted to fight in the Civil War. Its accomplished combat record led to the general recruitment of African-Americans as soldiers. They ultimately comprised ten percent of Union Army and Navy.

Is the movie Glory a true story?

Directed by Ed Zwick with a screenplay by Kevin Jarre, the film tells the true story of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) as he leads the 54th Massachusetts, the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer regiment.

What would happen if Fort Wagner was captured?

If captured, Fort Wagner would provide the Union an opportunity to bombard Fort Sumter and provide access into Charleston harbor itself, an important step in securing the city that many saw as the birthplace of the Civil War. Union forces stormed Morris Island on July 10, 1863. Assisted by a naval bombardment, the troops captured ...

How long did the Battle of Fort Wagner last?

To aid in the attack, Union ground artillery and naval guns bombarded Fort Wagner. The barrage lasted six hours, killing 8 and wounding 20 in a garrison of 1,700 Confederate soldiers.

What was the name of the city that the Union occupied in 1863?

The formidable Fort Sumter guarded the entrance to the harbor, while Fort Wagner, located on Morris Island, commanded the southern portion of the harbor. That strategic location on the southern edge, however, also left Fort Wagner relatively vulnerable to Union assault. [1] If captured, Fort Wagner would provide the Union an opportunity to bombard Fort Sumter and provide access into Charleston harbor itself, an important step in securing the city that many saw as the birthplace of the Civil War.

How long did the Union keep Fort Wagner?

Union forces kept the fort surrounded for sixty days. The combined pressure of the blockade and constant skirmishing nearby forced the Confederate troops to abandon Fort Wagner. Union forces then occupied the fort, allowing for a sustained bombardment of both Fort Sumter and the city of Charleston. For the 54 th, the Second Battle ...

What was the second battle of Fort Wagner?

The Second Battle of Fort Wagner served as the 54 th Massachusetts’s trial by fire. The all-Black volunteer regiment first experienced combat only two days prior in a comparatively minor skirmish. [3] . The planned assault on Fort Wagner offered ...

What day did the Union attack Morris Island?

Union forces stormed Morris Island on July 10, 1863. Assisted by a naval bombardment, the troops captured the southern portion of the island, but could not take Fort Wagner when the attack resumed the next day. [2] . On July 18, the 54 th Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment led a second Union assault against Fort Wagner.

Who was the general who attacked Fort Wagner?

General George Strong , a participant in the attack on Fort Wagner, said “…in all these severe tests, which would have tried even veteran troops, they fully met my expectations, for many were killed, wounded, or captured on the walls of the fort.”.

When was Fort Wagner fought?

Updated February 03, 2020. The Battles of Fort Wagner were fought on July 11 and 18, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). In the summer of 1863, Union Brigadier General Quincy Gillmore sought to advance towards Charleston, SC. The first step in this campaign required capturing Fort Wagner on nearby Morris Island.

Why did the garrison at Fort Wagner abandon it?

The garrison at Fort Wagner ultimately abandoned it on September 7 after enduring supply and water shortages as well as intense bombardments by Union guns. The assault on Fort Wagner brought great notoriety to the 54th Massachusetts and made a martyr of Shaw.

How far did the 54th Massachusetts come under Confederate fire?

Moving slightly west, the 54th Massachusetts came under Confederate fire approximately 150 yards from the fort. Pushing forward, they were joined by Strong's other regiments which attacked the wall closer to the sea. Taking heavy losses, Shaw led his men through the moat and up the wall ( Map ).

What was Fort Wagner defended by?

Spanning the width of the island, Fort Wagner (also known as Battery Wagner) was defended by thirty-foot high sand and earth walls which were reinforced with palmetto logs.

What did Putnam do to organize a defense in the southeast bastion?

Attempting to organize a defense in the southeast bastion, Putnam sent messengers calling for Stevenson's brigade to come up in support. Despite these requests, the third Union brigade never advanced. Clinging to their position, the Union troops turned back two Confederate counterattacks when Putnam was killed.

How many guns did Fort Wagner have?

Manned by a 1,700-man garrison led by Brigadier General William Taliaferro, Fort Wagner mounted fourteen guns and was further defended by a moat studded with spikes which ran along its landward walls. Seeking to maintain his momentum, Strong attacked Fort Wagner on July 11.

What did Shaw do to signal the advance of the Union?

As the bombardment concluded, Shaw raised his sword and signaled the advance. Moving forward, the Union advance was compressed at a narrow point in the beach. As the lines of blue neared, Taliaferro's men emerged from their shelter and began manning the ramparts.

What was the second Battle of Fort Wagner?

The Second Battle of Fort Wagner, a week later, is better known. It was the Union attack on July 18, 1863, led by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first major American military units made up of black soldiers.

How big was Fort Wagner?

Named for deceased Lt. Col. Thomas M. Wagner, Fort Wagner measured 250 by 100 yards (91 m), and spanned an area between the Atlantic on the east and an impassable swamp on the west. Its walls, composed of sand and earth, rose 30 feet (9.1 m) above the level beach and were supported by palmetto logs and sandbags. The fort's arsenal included fourteen cannons, the largest a 10-inch (250 mm) Columbiad that fired a 128-pound shell. It was a large structure capable of sheltering nearly 1,000 of the fort's 1,700-man garrison and provided substantial protection against naval shelling. The fort's land face was protected by a water-filled trench, 10 feet (3.0 m) wide and 5 feet (1.5 m) deep, surrounded by buried land mines and sharpened palmetto stakes. The fort itself was supported by defenses throughout Morris Island.

What is the 2nd Charleston Harbor?

2nd Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter National Monument marker of the Map of Charleston Harbor defenses. Fort Wagner or Battery Wagner was a beachhead fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston Harbor.

What was the most famous regiment that fought for the Union in the Battle of Fort Wagner?

The most famous regiment that fought for the Union in the battle of Fort Wagner was the 54th regiment , which was one of the first African-American regiments in the war. The 54th was controversial in the North, where many people supported the abolition of slavery but still treated African Americans as lesser or inferior to whites. Though some claimed blacks could not fight as well as whites, the actions of the 54th Massachusetts demonstrated once again the fallacy in that argument, as this was not the first time blacks ever fought in war or even for the United States.

How far did the Union attack the Advanced Rifle Pits?

By August 25, Union entrenchments were close enough to attempt an assault on the Advanced Rifle Pits, 240 yards in front of the Battery, but the attempt was defeated. A second attempt, by the 24th Massachusetts Infantry, on August 26 was successful.

Who died in the final scene of Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead?

In the book Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead, a character named T.J. dies charging the battlements at Fort Wagner.

Did Morris Island fall to the United States?

With its loss and that of Fort Gregg, Morris Island too fell to the United States. Although Charleston remained in the hands of the rebels its port was effectively closed. At the end of the year Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles could report that "the commerce of Charleston has ceased.".

Why was Fort Wagner abandoned?

The Confederates abandoned the fort on September 7, 1863, after resisting 60 days of shelling, it having been deemed untenable because of the damage from constant bombardment, lack of provisions, and the close proximity of the Union siege trenches to Wagner.

How many Union soldiers died in the Battle of Wagner?

In all, about 1,515 Union soldiers were killed, captured, or wounded in the assault of July 18, although this number has never been accurately ascertained. Gen. Hagood, the commander of Fort Wagner on the morning of July 19, stated in his report to Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard that he buried 800 bodies in mass graves in front of Wagner. Only 315 men were left from the 54th after the battle. Thirty were killed in action, including Col. Shaw and Captains Russel and Simpkins, and buried together in a single grave. Twenty-four later died of wounds, fifteen were captured, and fifty-two were reported missing after the battle and never seen again. The men of the 54th Massachusetts were hailed for their valor. William Carney, an African-American sergeant with the 54th, is considered the first black recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions that day in recovering and returning the unit's U.S. Flag to Union lines. Their conduct improved the reputation of African Americans as soldiers, leading to greater Union recruitment of African-Americans, which strengthened the Northern states' numerical advantage. In addition, the South recognized for the first time that captured African American soldiers were to be treated as enemy combatants and not criminals. Confederate casualties numbered 174.

How many howitzers did the Battery Wagner have?

The sea face of Wagner was armed with one 32 lb. carronade, one 10-inch Columbiad, and two 12 lb. howitzers. The garrison of Battery Wagner consisted of the 1st South Carolina Artillery, the Charleston Battalion, the 31st North Carolina, and the 51st North Carolina.

What time did the Massachusetts attack begin?

The assault began at 7:45 p.m. and was conducted in three movements. The 54th Massachusetts attacked to the west upon the curtain of Wagner, with the remainder of Gen. Strong's brigade and Col. Putnam's brigade attacking the seaward salient on the south face.

What was the name of the battle on July 18th?

2nd Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter. Map of the charge of the 54th Massachusetts. Depiction of the battle in the painting The Old Flag Never Touched the Ground. The Second Battle of Fort Wagner, also known as the Second Assault on Morris Island or the Battle of Fort Wagner, Morris Island, was fought on July 18, ...

How many shell guns were used in Fort Wagner?

The armament of Fort Wagner on the night of July 18 consisted of one 10-inch seacoast mortar, two 32 lb. carronades, two 8-inch shell guns, two 32 lb. howitzers, a 42 lb. carronade, and an 8-inch seacoast mortar on the land face.

When did Gillmore bombard Fort Wagner II?

Gillmore ordered his siege guns and mortars to begin a bombardment of the fort on July 18 and they were joined by the naval gunfire from six monitors that pulled to within 300 yards of the fort.

Background

First Attempt on Fort Wagner

Second Battle of Fort Wagner

• At 8:15 AM on July 18, Union artillery opened fired on Fort Wagner from the south. This was soon joined by fire from eleven of Dahlgren's ships. Continuing through the day, the bombardment did little actual damage as the fort's sand walls absorbed the Union shells and the garrison took cover in a large bombproof shelter. As the afternoon progressed...

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Blood at The Walls

Aftermath